第30章

andthatmorewouldbeawasteofmoney。ThePrincipalandinstrumentsoondroveofftogethertoastable-yardinHighHolborn，wherearemarkablyfinegreygelding，worth，atthelowestfigure，seventy-fiveguineas(nottakingintoaccountthevalueoftheshothehadbeenmadetoswallowfortheimprovementofhisform)，wastobepartedwithforatwenty-poundnote，inconsequenceofhishavingrunawaylastweekwithMrsCaptainBarbaryofCheltenham，whowasn’tuptoahorseofhiscourage，andwho，inmerespite，insistedonsellinghimforthatridiculoussum：or，inotherwords，ongivinghimaway。Plornish，goingupthisyardaloneandleavinghisPrincipaloutside，foundagentlemanwithtightdrablegs，aratheroldhat，alittlehookedstick，andablueneckerchief(CaptainMaroonofGloucestershire，aprivatefriendofCaptainBarbary)；whohappenedtobethere，inafriendlyway，tomentiontheselittlecircumstancesconcerningtheremarkablyfinegreygeldingtoanyrealjudgeofahorseandquicksnapper-upofagoodthing，whomightlookinatthataddressasperadvertisement。Thisgentleman，happeningalsotobethePlaintiffintheTipcase，referredMrPlornishtohissolicitor，anddeclinedtotreatwithMrPlornish，oreventoendurehispresenceintheyard，unlessheappearedtherewithatwenty-poundnote：inwhichcaseonly，thegentlemanwouldaugurfromappearancesthathemeantbusiness，andmightbeinducedtotalktohim。Onthishint，MrPlornishretiredtocommunicatewithhisPrincipal，andpresentlycamebackwiththerequiredcredentials。

ThensaidCaptainMaroon，’Now，howmuchtimedoyouwanttomaketheothertwentyin？Now，I’llgiveyouamonth。’ThensaidCaptainMaroon，whenthatwouldn’tsuit，’Now，I’lltellwhatI’lldowithyou。Youshallgetmeagoodbillatfourmonths，madepayableatabanking-house，fortheothertwenty!’ThensaidCaptainMaroon，whenTHATwouldn’tsuit，’Now，come；Here’sthelastI’vegottosaytoyou。Youshallgivemeanothertendown，andI’llrunmypencleanthroughit。’ThensaidCaptainMaroonwhenTHATwouldn’tsuit，’Now，I’lltellyouwhatitis，andthisshutsitup；hehasusedmebad，butI’lllethimoffforanotherfivedownandabottleofwine；andifyoumeandone，saydone，andifyoudon’tlikeit，leaveit。’FinallysaidCaptainMaroon，whenTHATwouldn’tsuiteither，’Handover，then!’——Andinconsiderationofthefirstoffer，gaveareceiptinfullanddischargedtheprisoner。

’MrPlornish，’saidArthur，’Itrusttoyou，ifyouplease，tokeepmysecret。Ifyouwillundertaketolettheyoungmanknowthatheisfree，andtotellhimthatyouwereemployedtocompoundforthedebtbysomeonewhomyouarenotatlibertytoname，youwillnotonlydomeaservice，butmaydohimone，andhissisteralso。’

’Thelastreason，sir，’saidPlornish，’wouldbequitesufficient。

Yourwishesshallbeattendedto。’

’AFriendhasobtainedhisdischarge，youcansayifyouplease。

AFriendwhohopesthatforhissister’ssake，iffornooneelse’s，hewillmakegooduseofhisliberty。’

’Yourwishes，sir，shallbeattendedto。’

’Andifyouwillbesogood，inyourbetterknowledgeofthefamily，astocommunicatefreelywithme，andtopointouttomeanymeansbywhichyouthinkImaybedelicatelyandreallyusefultoLittleDorrit，Ishallfeelunderanobligationtoyou。’

’Don’tnameit，sir，’returnedPlornish，’it’llbeekallyapleasureana——it’lbeekallyapleasureanda——’Findinghimselfunabletobalancehissentenceaftertwoefforts，MrPlornishwiselydroppedit。HetookClennam’scardandappropriatepecuniarycompliment。

Hewasearnesttofinishhiscommissionatonce，andhisPrincipalwasinthesamemind。SohisPrincipalofferedtosethimdownattheMarshalseaGate，andtheydroveinthatdirectionoverBlackfriarsBridge。Ontheway，ArthurelicitedfromhisnewfriendaconfusedsummaryoftheinteriorlifeofBleedingHeartYard。Theywasallhardupthere，MrPlornishsaid，uncommonhardup，tobesure。Well，hecouldn’tsayhowitwas；hedidn’tknowasanybodycouldsayhowitwas；allheknow’dwas，thatsoitwas。

Whenamanfelt，onhisownbackandinhisownbelly，thatpoorhewas，thatman(MrPlornishgaveitashisdecidedbelief)know’dwellthathewaspoorsomehoworanother，andyouc